On great presidents

[cema]

Those who believe that history runs in cycles will be interested to note that the three great presidents took office at 72-year intervals--Washington in 1789, Lincoln in 1861 and FDR in 1933--and that this November it will have been exactly 72 years since the election of our last great president.

If Kerry is elected, then I am almost sure the press will make him a great president. Like they (almost) did with JFK. Indeed, the economy is improving, the situation in Iraq is much better than it is being reported now (but, if Kerry is elected, I expect the tone of the press to become more upbeat), and what else? Oh, the VIP foreign leaders in Europe will like the US more with Kerry on top. I assume, of course, that his presidential team is going to be staffed reasonably well.

If Bush is reelected, the press on him may be expected to become marginally better (after all, the people will have spoken). But few would call him great, because he is not from their camp; this is a very partisan issue.

I do not want a great president. I want a president who does his job like I want him to. Which means I want a good presidential team and a president who is not afraid of knowledgeable advisors. And not afraid to take bold steps if (s)he decides they need to be taken.

Comments

[ptchk.livejournal.com]

OUR next great president... Мдя.
А я на слет уехала.

[cema.livejournal.com]

OUR next great president...

I am a permanent resident. ;-) What's more, while I cannot vote, I can and have to pay taxes. And, of course, I am physically present here, and everything that happens to this country may affect me. In this sense the American president is no less mine than the Russian president (I am a Russian citizen and can vote in Russian elections, have property and close relatives in Russia, so whatever happens there affects me as well).

А я на слет уехала.

Поздравляю! Не забудь вернуться.

[email-animal.livejournal.com]

While you cannot vote, you can support them with your money.

[cema.livejournal.com]

I could also serve in their military. And, of course, I could have emigrated earlier and become a citizen. :-)

[silpol.livejournal.com]

And not afraid to take bold steps if (s)he decides they need to be taken.

видимо так себе сам себя Буш и мнит :)

[cema.livejournal.com]

Собственно, мне это пока в основном по душе.